1996 Emmanuel Rouget, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru, Cros Parantoux 1x750ml

Vinous 94

The 1996 Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux 1er Cru should be considered a success for the vintage for Emmanuel Rouget, delivering pure redcurrant intermixed with kirsch and orange blossom. Some background VA never really interferes. There s fine delineation here-in fact, the aromatics gain precision with aeration-alongside an agreeable peaty scent. The palate is very well balanced with fine-boned tannins. Soy-tinged red fruit segues into blacker, tarry fruit toward the finish, which has a slight rambunctiousness you occasionally find among 1996 Côte de Nuits. This coheres beautifully in the glass. À point. [Neal Martin, 02/01/2025]

Robert Parker 93-95

The dark-colored Vosne-Romanee Cros- Parantoux possesses an intensely spicy nose filled with ripe red berries and minerals. This unbelievably broad, rich, powerful, and compellingly deep wine is also elegant and complex. Its flavor profile is composed of stones soaked in cherry juice, Asian spices, licorice, flowers, and hints of freshly laid asphalt. It is more backward than the Echezeaux, seemingly keeping more in reserve, but shares that superb offering’s amazing finish. Projected maturity: 2005-2012. Bravo! Importer: Martine’s Wines, San Raphael, CA; tel. (415) 485-1800. [Pierre Rovani, 08/01/1998]

Anticipated maturity: 2005-2012